Florianopolis is a thriving destination due to its perfect beaches, excellent surfing, amazing seafood, and juxtaposition of a modern megacity with 16th-century colonial fortresses and relaxed markets and parks. Florianopolis is quite modern, with large shopping malls, chain and high-end restaurants and many bars and nightclubs. Most of the city's area consists of the island of Santa Catarina, connected to the mainland by two bridges, and only a small part of the island can really be called urban - the rest is full of gorgeous beaches and a large lagoon.